Stage-border-light rigging.



W. CAMPH.

STAGE BORDER LIGHT RIGGING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1912.

1,055,020. I Patented Mar.4, 1913. w

V COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO.,WASNXNGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES rATENT cornice.

WILLIAM cAMrH, or rELHAmNEw YORK, ASSIGNOR To JOHN R. CLANCY, or

I SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

STAGE-BORDER-LIGHT 'RIGG-ING.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented llIar. 4:, 1913 Application filed June 19, 1912. Serial No. 704,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM CAMPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pelham, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stage-Border-Light Rigging, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to border light riggings for theater stages and consists ina new construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the border lights are more conveniently and safely controlled, that is raised and lowered.

The important features of the invention are the arrangement of a suitablecounterweight on the opposite-prompt, or O. P.v side of the stage, to which extend over suitable pulleys all the wire ropes from the border light. The wire rope sustaining the slack of the electric light cable is also carried over suitable pulleys to said weight and there from the singlecontrolling line extends over suitable pulleys to the tie-rail or pin-rail on the other side of the stage convenient to the hand of the operator.

' My invention will be understood by referenceto the drawing herewith in which the reference letters of this description indicate the corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is substantially an elevation taken from the front of the stage showing the arrangement of the various parts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the elbow on which the electric light cable is carried.

In the figures 1 indicates the stage, 2 the proscenium arch, and 3 the border light .hung on the wire ropes 4, provided with insulators 8.

These ropes run each over its individual pulley 5 and the main pulley 6 to counterweight 7 hung on the non-working side of the stage. This weight is fitted to a suitable guide-waylO. By means of the single line 15 from the counterweight running over the main pulley and the small pulley 15f to the pin rail 16, the weight may be slacked to raise the border-light, permitting the weight to drop to the gallery 18, and, if you wish to lower the former, it is easily done by pulling on the line, for the weight is only slightly overbalanced. b

To the border light at any suitable point is connected the electric feed cable 20 from the conductors in the conduit 21 suitably arranged. For carrying the slack ofjthis cable, I have provided a desirable means, or sling, consisting of a tubular elbow 22, slightly bent to conform to the natural curve of the cable and having smooth bushings 23 in each end to prevent chafing. From a ring 24 on the bushing a wire rope 25 extends over its own pulley 26 and the main pulley to the counterweight so that the weight of the cable and its slack is'carried up and down with the border light, and this preventsstrain or breaking of the wires or insulation or chafing of the latter. All this manipulation of the border-light is not only easy, but the arrangement is convenient and not complicated. The weight, its guides, etc., are arranged outof the way on the nonworking side and to that side extend all the ropes, leaving the working side free and clear, for only the single line 15 extendsover to the pin rail, and the fewer lines and ropes on that side to fill the space and confuse the fly-man the better. A

In dotted lines is shown the position of ropes, cable and borderflight in lowest position. I have shown a center feed, but the electric cable can be applied either as an end feed or a center feed. However center feeds are not now permitted on accountof supposed danger; in case the insulation wears and there is a flash it would then be more difficult to reach the center feed.

Having described my claim, I

1. Border-lightriggingfor theaters comprising the" border-light, a counterweight arranged on opposite-prompt side of the stage, a plurality of ropes from the borderlight extending over suitable pulleys t0 the counterweight and a single manipulating line from the counterweight extending over invention,

suitable pulleys to the pin rail on the a single wire rope from the sling extending over suitable pulleys to the counterweight.

3. Border-light rigging for theaters comprising the border-light, a counterweight arranged on one side thereof, supporting ropes for the border-light attached to said counterweight and a single manipulating line from the counterweight extended to the opposite side of the border-light.

4. Border-light rigging for theaters comprising the border-light, a counter-weight arranged on one side of the stage, a plurality of ropes from the border-light extending over suitable pulleys to the counterweight, said ropes carrying the borderlight and said counter-weight being proportioned slightly, but only slightly, to over-balance the borderlight, a single manipulating line from the counter-weight extending over suitable pulleys to the side of the stage opposite the counter-weight, and means to secure said line to said opposite side.

5. Border-light rigging for theaters com-- prising the border-light, a suitably arranged guide-way on the opposite-prompt side of the stage, a counter-weight fitted to the guide-way, suspending ropes for the borderlight extending from the border-light over suitable pulleys to the counter-weight, an electric cable connected to the border-light, a suitable sling fitted to the cable to carry the weight of the slack, a single rope to sustain the slack, extending from the sling over suitable pulleys to the counter-weight and a single manipulating line extending from the counter-weight over suitable pulleys to the pin-rail on the prompt side of the stage, substantially as described and shown.

6. Border-light rigging for theaters comprising the border-light, a series of individual pulleys above the border-light, a counter-weight suitably arranged on the oppo site-prompt side of the stage, a main pulley suitably arranged above the counterweight, a series of Wire suspending ropes for the border-light extending therefrom, each over its individual pulley and over the main pulley, to the counter-weight, an insulator interposed in each of said ropes, said counterweight being proportioned slightly to over balance the border-light, an electric cable connected to the border-light, a suitable sling fitted to the cable to carry the weight of the slack, a sustaining wire rope extending from the sling over suitable pulleys to the counter-weight, and a single manipulating line extending over suitable pulleys to the pin-rail 011 the prompt side of the stage, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM GAMPH. Witnesses J. Roscoe MILLWARD, M. L. BREsLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

